What You Need To Control To Avoid A Stroke

Just the other day the local paper had an article of “ good bye” from popular writer Scott Sandsberry.   He said he had suffered a stroke and could no longer fulfill the duties of his job as a reporter.  He’s a cool and talented guy and his career ends too soon.  We wish him a speedy return to good health.

Strokes are nasty things and all of us should know about them and do all we can to prevent them.

Researchers say as many as nine out of 10 strokes could be prevented --and that the most important thing you can do is keep your high blood pressure under control.

CBS reports out of 10 "controllable" stroke risk factors, "hypertension is the most important... and the key target in reducing" strokes worldwide.

The study published in The Lancet identified other stroke risk factors and how much each could be reduced: In addition to controlling hypertension, stroke risk can be reduce by controlling:
--Physical inactivity: a 36 percent risk reduction
--Poor diet: 23 percent risk reduction
--Obesity: 19 percent
--Smoking: 12 percent reduction
--Heart causes: 9 percent
--Diabetes: 4 percent
--Alcohol use: 6 percent
--Stress: 6 percent
--Lipids (blood fats): 27 percent reduced risk.